Wooden identification blocks

Abstract

Each block of a set of wooden blocks bears indicia of the tree species of the wood from which the block is made. Preferred embodiments may include the following features. The blocks are configured as building blocks for children. The indicia on each block show the living tree from which the lumber for the block is derived. The indicia are laser etched upon the blocks. The indicia comprise a picture of a living tree, divided into two portions, one portion showing the tree foliated and one portion showing the tree defoliated. The indicia comprise a picture of a leaf of the living tree, the common name of the tree species and the taxonomic name. The blocks are accompanied by a data sheet further describing the woods and trees of the blocks of the set.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A set of instructional materials, comprising: two or more loose wooden blocks, each block of the set being formed of the wood of a different tree species, and each block having thereon at least two indicia indicating the species from which the block is derived, each block being a rectangular prism, with dimensions in small integer ratios to each other, the indicia lying flush with the block surface or relieved into the block surface, and at least one of said indicia comprising a picture selected from a group consisting of a picture of a full tree of the species and a picture of a leaf of a living tree of the species.   
     
     
       2. The set of instructional materials of claim 1 wherein the indicia comprise a picture of a full tree, said picture being divided into two portions, one portion showing the tree foliated and one portion showing the tree defoliated. 
     
     
       3. The set of instructional materials of claim 1 wherein the indicia comprise both a picture of a full tree of the species and a picture of a leaf of the living tree. 
     
     
       4. The set of instructional materials of claim 3 wherein said indicia comprise a picture of a full tree, said picture being divided into two portions, one portion showing the tree foliated and one portion showing the tree defoliated. 
     
     
       5. The set of instructional materials of claim 1 further comprising a data sheet further describing the woods and trees of the blocks of the set. 
     
     
       6. A set of two or more wooden blocks, each block being made of the wood of a different tree species, and having thereon indicia indicating a property of a living tree of the species from which the block is derived, said indicia comprising a picture selected from a group consisting of a picture of a full tree of the species and a picture of a leaf of a living tree of the species. 
     
     
       7. The set of wooden blocks of claim 6 wherein the indicia are formed by laser etching of the blocks. 
     
     
       8. The set of wooden blocks of claim 8 wherein the indicia comprise a picture of a full tree, the picture being divided into two portions, one portion showing the tree foliated and one portion showing the tree defoliated. 
     
     
       9. The set of wooden blocks of claims 6, wherein the indicia comprise both a picture of a full tree of the species and a picture of a leaf of the living tree. 
     
     
       10. The set of wooden blocks of claim 9 wherein the indicia further comprise the common name of the tree species and the taxonomic name. 
     
     
       11. The set of wooden blocks of claim 6 wherein the indicia further comprise the common name of the tree species and the taxonomic name. 
     
     
       12. The set of wooden blocks of claim 6 further comprising a data sheet further describing the woods and trees of the blocks of the set. 
     
     
       13. A set of two or more loose wooden blocks, each block of the set being formed of the wood of a different tree species, and each block having thereon indicia of the tree species from which the block is derived, each block being a rectangular prism, with dimensions in small integer ratios to each other, the indicia lying flush with the block surface or relieved into the block surface. 
     
     
       14. The set of wooden blocks of claim 13 wherein the indicia are formed by laser etching of the blocks. 
     
     
       15. The set of wooden blocks of claim 13 wherein the indicia comprise a picture of a living tree. 
     
     
       16. The set of wooden blocks of claim 13 wherein the indicia comprise a picture of a full tree, the picture being divided into two portions, one portion showing the tree foliated and one portion showing the tree defoliated. 
     
     
       17. The set of wooden blocks of claim 13 wherein the indicia comprise a picture of a leaf of the living tree. 
     
     
       18. The set of wooden blocks of claim 17 wherein the indicia further comprise the common name of the tree species and the taxonomic name. 
     
     
       19. The set of wooden blocks of claim 13 wherein the indicia further comprise the common name of the tree species and the taxonomic name. 
     
     
       20. The set of wooden blocks of claim 13 further comprising a data sheet further describing the woods and trees of the blocks of the set. 
     
     
       21. The set of wooden blocks of claim 13 wherein the indicia are formed by burning with a heated iron or die. 
     
     
       22. The set of wooden blocks of claim 13 wherein the indicia are formed by printing with pigmented liquid or powder.